How To Become A Failure Analysis Engineer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a failure analysis engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Thomas Junk Ph.D.

The failure analysis engineer develops the methods and measures of analysis. This is used in determining the errors affecting business processes. He/She analyzes how reliable the design, cost, weight, production, and consumer satisfaction of company products are. He/She works with various engineers and analysts in the organization. Furthermore, he/she follows the testing procedures to find the root causes of failure. Asides from that, he/she maintains a record of all incidents of failure to aid further analysis. Also, he/she provides measures to continuously improve the processes and functioning of the product.

To become a failure analysis engineer, you need a minimum of a bachelor's degree in engineering, materials science, or any relevant discipline. You must possess at least two years of related work experience. Essential skills include problem-solving, communication, analytical, and teamwork skills. You must be conversant with database management. On average, you will earn $99,555 per annum. This is between $70,000 and $141,000.

What general advice would you give to a failure analysis engineer?

Thomas Junk Ph.D.

Professor and Head, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

While this may not exactly answer your question, it is very important to start making connections and to network WELL BEFORE graduation. Internships, volunteer work, membership in professional organizations, leadership activities all help to land a job after graduation. It is very important to continue networking as much as possible. The only true job security is the ability to find another job - it is truly liberating because it enables you to say "no" to your boss, if necessary. Also, I noticed that many graduates do not take advantage of all possible avenues to find employers. It is important to have a good web presence and to sign up on sites such as LinkedIn.

I also highly recommend cultivating ties to one's former institution and college friends. Often, job openings are filled by word of mouth: companies looking for somebody with a specific skill set ask around. A company contacted me for the name of somebody I could recommend for a specific job, but I came to find out that the contact information that I had of the person I wanted to recommend was no longer valid.

It is important to have specific career goals. Many recent graduates and fresh hires let their careers "drift" and have no idea where they want to be ten years from now. Also, always keep looking for jobs! Few jobs are so good that it is impossible to find a better one.

ScoreFailure Analysis EngineerUS Average

Salary

7.1

Avg. Salary $91,071

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.5

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%

Asian 15.46%

Black or African American 4.29%

Hispanic or Latino 10.52%

Unknown 3.88%

White 65.68%

Gender

female 16.26%

male 83.74%

Age - 41

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41

Stress level

7.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a failure analysis engineer

Explore failure analysis engineer education requirements

Most common failure analysis engineer degrees

Bachelor's

65.5 %

Master's

14.2 %

Associate

13.9 %

Start to develop specific failure analysis engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
Corrective Action	9.65%
Failure Analysis	5.26%
Data Analysis	5.08%
Test Equipment	4.80%
Failure Analysis Techniques	3.71%

Complete relevant failure analysis engineer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New failure analysis engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a failure analysis engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real failure analysis engineer resumes.

Research failure analysis engineer duties and responsibilities

Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
Create numerous Java and C++ base reusable components for both GUI and system services.
Lead team of engineers and technicians in the populating of FMEA failure modes and effects data.
Complete die-level electrical analysis on defective IC's from quality failures, customer returns, reliability testing and yield improvement.

Prepare your failure analysis engineer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your failure analysis engineer resume.

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